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UNITED KINGDOM

Date Formed 1969

Categories: Blues Rock

JUICY LUCY

Current Members

Past Members

Biography

Blues Rockers JUICY LUCY, although created in London during 1970, actually evolved from an American act THE MISUNDERSTOOD which migrated from Riverside, California to London in in 1965. As THE MISUNDERSTOOD the band released five singles, starting with 1966's 'You Don't Have To Go' on the Blues Sound label in America before signing to British label Fontana. Following a second single, 'I Can Take You To The Sun', band leader and singer Rick Brown was drafted into the American Army. The band's guitarist Tony Hill joined HIGHTIDE.

THE MISUNDERSTOOD split, but re-assembled in 1969 with a line-up of original members guitarist Glenn Ross Campbell and drummer Guy Evans, vocalist Steve Hoard, ex GREASE BAND and GRAHAM BOND ORGANISATION guitarist Neil Hubbard, former JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS keyboard player Chris Mercer and bassist Nic Potter.

This revised line-up issued three further singles for Fontana during 1969, the last 'Never Had A Girl (Like You Before)' - was released under the unwieldy band name of THE MISUNDERSTOOD FEATURING GLENN 'FERNANDO' CAMPBELL.

The following year the band adopted a brand new title of JUICY LUCY although losing Potter to VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR along the way.

LUCY by coincidence added ex VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR bassist Keith Ellis to supplant Potter and a new vocalist in Ray Owen. The band's first self titled album dented the British charts at number 41. The first single 'Who Do You Love?' also charted.

Despite this success Owens quit in late 1969 to form a solo act RAY OWEN'S MOON, releasing an eponymous album in 1971, and was replaced by Paul Williams of Aynsley Dunbar's BLUE WHALE. Further ructions within the ranks occurred when both Dobson and Hubbard left. New recruits were ex-ROADRUNNERS and TRAMLINE guitarist MICKY MOODY and drummer Rod Coombes. JUICY LUCY released a second album the same year entitled 'Lie Back And Enjoy It', but after this appeared Ellis left and in came former FAT MATTRESS man Jim Leverton.

Although the band carried on progress was marred by ever increasing line-up changes. The band signed to Bronze Records in 1971 and added keyboard player Jean Roussell. Leverton quit to join HEMLOCK after the 'Get A Whiff Of This' album and in was drafted former SAVOY BROWN and BLODWYN PIG man Andy Pyle. Coombes also departed, to STEELER'S WHEEL, and was replaced by Ron Berg. Campbell and Mercer were also to drift away. Campbell later worked with JOE COCKER.

The band managed one last album with 1972's 'Pieces' before Pyle opted to rejoin SAVOY BROWN taking Berg with him and in came bassist Chris Stewart for a short tenure.

Gradually the band broke up as Moody joined various acts including SNAFU and ending up in WHITESNAKE and Williams joined TEMPEST, the band formed in late 1972 by COLOSSEUM drummer Jon Hiseman and ex-COLOSSEUM and URIAH HEEP bassist Mark Clarke. Williams also fronted ENGLAND'S GLORY in 1984, the short-lived Los Angeles based outfit formed by BLACK SABBATH drummer BILL WARD. Pyle would figure in the histories of CHICKENSHACK, GARY MOORE, ALVIN LEE, THE KINKS and WISHBONE ASH.

JUICY LUCY was re-forged in 1994, Ray Owen drafting Mike Jarvis on guitar, Andy Doughty on bass and Spencer Blackledge on the drums. Together they recorded the album 'Here She Comes Again' for the HTD label. Although a respectable comeback, backed by UK and European touring, the group would dissolve once again in 1997. That very same hyear Micky Moody re-founded JUICY LUCY, pulling in Paul Williams, Andy Pyle and drummer Henry Spinetti. Castle Music re-issued 'Here She Comes Again' in 1999 with revised artwork.

A June 2003 version of the band was formed up comprising Ray Owen, guitarist Mr. Fish, bassist Fudge and drummer Fletch.

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